Trump: ‘Right deal’ needed at additional denuclearization talks

While reemphasizing his “very good” relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, U.S. President Donald Trump said Saturday that Washington needs a “right deal” in additional negotiations for the North’s denuclearization.

He made the remarks during a speech at the Republican Jewish Coalition’s 2019 spring leadership meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada on the day. “We’re getting along with North Korea. We’ll see how it works out, but we have a good relationship. Don’t forget, I have a very good relationship with Kim Jong Un,” Trump said.

“Tensions with North Korea were high when I first took office in 2017, with the communist nation setting off rockets and nuclear explosions,” Trump said, recalling the time when tension was escalating on the Korean Peninsula. He went on to say that he had to walk from a deal because it could not be a “right deal.”

On what a “right deal” that President Trump was referring to, Japan’s Yomiuri Shimbun reported he presented a first draft of five-point agreement that includes two demands and three compensatory measures at the U.S. North Korea summit in Hanoi. The first demand was the North’s denuclearization that consists of items, namely the definition of denuclearization, freezing of nuclear weapons, and reporting and verification. The second demand was starting of work to excavate the remains of fallen U.S. soldiers within North Korea.

As compensations to the North in case Pyongyang accepts the demands, President Trump suggested declaration of the end of the Korean War, the opening of mutual liaison offices between the North and the U.S., and economic aid to the Stalinist nation. The U.S. president clarified “the complete dismantlement of Yongbyon nuclear facilities” as precondition for the declaration of the end of the Korean War and the opening of liaison offices, and “the North’s complete denuclearization” as precondition for its economic aid.

According to Yomiuri, North Korean leader Kim responded angrily to the demands, saying, “We cannot accept the U.S.’ unilateral demand,” which led to the collapse of the summit.


lightee@donga.com